New 100 foot aerial truck in works for Coshocton Fire Department

COSHOCTON – Safety Service Director Max Crown shared that city crews are out picking up leaves as quickly as they can.

“Hopefully they will all be down by the end of the month and we will be done by Christmas,” he said. “They are kind of late (falling) this year.”

Crown also shared that council would be seeing an ordinance giving him or the mayor the authority to prepare specifications and advertise for bids for refuse and recycling services for the City of Coshocton. Council gave this ordinance a first reading and allowed it to take its course.

Council also gave readings to the following ordinances:

• 55-19 an ordinance authorizing the mayor, service director and/or city auditor to borrow the funds necessary for the purchase of a new fire truck. This ordinance authorizes the mayor, service director and/or city auditor to borrow funds not exceeding $400,000 for the purchase of a new fire truck at an interest not to exceed 3 percent for five years.
• 56-19 an ordinance authorizing the mayor and/or service director to enter into a contract to purchase a new 100 foot aerial Pierce Arrow Fire Truck for the price of $1,365,535. The mayor and/or safety service director are hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. for the purchase of a 100 foot heavy duty steel mid mount ladder apparatus mounted on a Pierce Arrow XT chassis with a 2000 GPM pumping capacity per the State of Ohio cooperative purchasing plan, contract #800721.

Chief Mike Layton said this type of truck is used for commercial fires when you are going to be up for long periods of time. Their current 100 foot aerial truck is from 1985.

It’s almost 35 years old,” Layton said. “It’s showing age and getting tired. It also doesn’t have the safety features that are built into the new stuff.”

They were offered $5,000 to trade their old one in, but Layton said they are looking at other options.

“We had talked to Mayor Mercer about it, but are going to have to revisit our options with the new administration,” Layton said.

Three readings were given to the following ordinances for two joint economic development districts and they were approved by council.

• 53-19 an ordinance authorizing the mayor or service director to sign all documents necessary to renew the joint economic development district between the City of Coshocton and Tuscarawas Township located in the county of Coshocton.
• 54-19 an ordinance authorizing the mayor or service director to sign all documents necessary to renew the joint economic development district between the City of Coshocton and Franklin Township located in the county of Coshocton.

During the meeting Mayor Steve Mercer shared that the city cruiser the sheriff’s office is putting out of service will now be used by Property Code Investigator Jeff Corder. Lettering is being looked at for the vehicle to display his job title.

Crown also took a moment to commend Tom Barcroft and Our Town Coshocton for the lighted snowflakes that will be put up on Main Street.

“They have 44 new Christmas lights and their original goal was 22,” Crown said. “All these were made possible through personal donations.”

The city spent the fall working on the light poles to prepare for these new decorations and will help Our Town put them up.

Council President Cliff Biggers wrapped up the meeting by welcoming the newly elected officials in attendance.

“I’m looking forward to working with each of you,” he said.

Category: Government